5 local children’s books your kids will love

When it comes to children’s literature, hitting up familiar old favourites is a surefire way to pique your kids’ reading interest. Classics like Goodnight Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Guess How Much I Love You? and Where the Wild Things Are have stood the test of time, while Roald Dahl and Dr Seuss boxsets will always be a hit.

But local is still the lekkerest, which is why The Great Equalizer has decided to showcase some picture books penned by South African authors. So, in no particular order of preference, here’s what we’ve been reading to our little ones:

Frog Magical Ring in the Platteklip Spring

Written by Tina Scotford, author of the popular Kachoo series, Frog’s Magical Ring in the Platteklip Spring features a tenacious frog on a mission to find a magical ring that gets dropped in the local waters of the Platteklip Spring. Frog hopes the mystical ring will grant him three wishes so he can transform his small, damp place into an elegant castle with a lot more space! Will Frog’s dream come true? 

 This is the second instalment in Tina’s frog series, the first being the gorgeous A Frog and a Whale in a Princess Tale. Fingers crossed this local author has another one in the works, though rumour has it she’s just completed a new chapter book aimed at older children.

Tina’s books can be purchased online and in most book shops and tourist shops within South Africa. You can also email tina@kachoo.co.za for orders. 

Imi’s Sore Tooth

This year local school teacher and artist Nicola Obertik published her debut picture book Imi’s Sore Tooth. This book touches on the magic that can only be imagined with an African backdrop, detailing a day in the life of two African fairies, Khanyi and Yoni. Together, the fairies solve two problems with one solution, teaching children about the African ecosystem and incorporating problem-solving skills cleverly veiled in colourful illustrations and an engaging story line.

Imi’s Sore Tooth is available to order from the artist’s Facebook page for R120 (excl. courier) and is also stocked at Book Circle Capital and Love Books, which are both Melville-based independent book stores.

 

Sofia the Squirrel (My Feeling Friends)

The My Feeling Friends series by children’s counsellor Phillippa Morassi is fast becoming a firm favourite among South African parents.

Each book in the series deals with an emotion, teaching your child empathy and self-regulation techniques that help them deal with that emotion. The latest in the series, Sofia the Squirrel, shows how little Sofia identifies anxiety and learns to overcome it. Other books in the series include Sammy the Starfish (who is sad), Freddy the Fox (who is lonely), and Bella the Bunny (who is happy).

The My Feeling Friends series teaches children how to identify and deal with big emotions that most grown ups have yet to master. 

 Available to order from the My Feeling Friends website for R130.

 

LMNOP

Illustrator Megan Andrews, who also happens to be responsible for the one-of-a-kind artwork in the My Feeling Friends books, introduced us to Henry the dragon last year, “whose body had grown so he could no longer fit into his teacup home”.

This year Megan treated us to LMNOP, the sweetest little alphabet book that would make the perfect baby shower gift. Babies will love it for its striking illustrations while older kids will enjoy Megan’s clever take on each letter of the alphabet.

 Both Henry (R100) and LMNOP (R150) are available to order from the author directly: studio@megy.co.za

 

The Elephant’s Itchy Toe (Little SAfari)

The proudly South African Little SAfari series of books by Karen le Grange echo traditional African storytelling techniques, teaching children about our country’s indigenous animals by drawing them in to an African fantasy. 

 There are three books in the Little SAfari series so far, including The Elephant’s Itchy Toe, about the iconic Go-Away Bird who attempts to rescue the elephant from a horrible itch; The Dancing Dung Beetle, about a brave little dung beetle who learns to dance like no-one is watching; and More Than a Roar, about iLembe the leopard who adopts (and learns from) an abandoned cheetah cub.

Each Little SAfari book costs R135 (excl. postage) and can be ordered from the author directly via info@littlesafari.co.za.

COMPETITION TIME!

We couldn’t dangle all of our favourite local finds without giving YOU a chance to win them. So we’re giving away a book hamper that the work of some of our featured authors (with a few additional surprises). 

Keen to win? Here’s what you need to do:

1. Make sure you’re following The Great Equalizer on Facebook/Instagram

2. Tag ONE friend in the comments below

3. And tell us what your little one’s current fave bedtime read is

 

Ts and Cs:

This competition will run until Friday 29 November, 2019 at midday. The winner will be announced within a couple of days from that via Facebook and Instagram after the winner is notified personally. Recent winners of The Great Equalizer giveaways will not be legible to win in a six-month time frame. The Great Equalizer will facilitate the prize handover. Entrants must be based in South Africa.